BUCKHANNON – Shoe Sensation is partnering with the American Heart Association for a fundraiser running from Feb. 1 to March 31.

Shoe Sensation manager Genevia Jenkins said all 230 Shoe Sensation stores will participate in the fundraiser, but Buckhannon’s location has an individual goal of $300.

“We will be taking donations in the store for the American Heart Association so customers can come to the register and donate any amount they want and of course, at each point of sale, we will be asking customers if they would like to donate,” Jenkins said. “Buckhannon is always such a supportive community, and this is just another way that we want to give back to them.”

This is the first time Shoe Sensation has worked with the American Heart Association, but Jenkins hopes it will become a reoccurring partnership.

“The company is seeing so much growth in the communities where we are doing business and they just feel it’s extremely important to give back to the area we work in and the American Heart Association is very big within each of those communities,” Jenkins said.

Buckhannon’s Shoe Sensation has brochures available to so customers can read about the different branches of the American Heart Association and how their donation will benefit its different programs.

“The brochure is available in the store, and it tells you where the money is really needed, where the focus needs to be right now because the American Heart Association reassesses where they need to direct their funds,” Jenkins said. “It’s such a wonderful organization; I’m certain they will make sure the money goes where it’s needed the most.”

Jenkins said this fundraiser is close to her heart and she is happy to be working with the organization.

“A long time ago, like back in the 80s, I was in the American Heart Association pageant, and it just brought back a lot of memories for me because it was an organization I truly believed in,” Jenkins said. “It’s just amazing to be able to contribute; I didn’t win the title of queen of the American Heart Association or anything, but I did win the essay for the best reason why I entered the pageant, and I remember saying, ‘it was so important to me because as West Virginians, it’s one of the things that really affects our communities as a whole and our health issues.’

“We can always do better, and we could improve,” Jenkins added. “It’s such a great organization that focuses on that.”